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1956 Map of Armstrong

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Armstrong
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Missouri Pacific railroad corridor anchors this survey of Kenedy County, serving as the industrial spine for isolated outposts like Armstrong and Norias. This is a landscape defined by large-scale ranching and mineral extraction, where the Armstrong Ranch Headquarters and smaller sites like Pita Camp and Ball Ranch managed the arid terrain. The map captures a transition in land use as traditional ranching was increasingly accompanied by resource exploration, evidenced by numerous Oil Wells and Caliche Pits scattered across the brushland.

Water is the critical resource here, with many Artesian Well sites and seasonal catchments such as Pinole Lake and Candelaria Lake providing necessary hydration for livestock. Low-lying elevations are broken by distinct rises like Ebony Hill and Tokyo Hill, while Shifting Sand Dunes reflect the dynamic nature of the South Texas environment. For genealogists, the Norias Cem near the railroad tracks provides a specific point of local historical record.